AR GAME HOLOGRID: MONSTER BATTLE CELEBRATES MAY THE FOURTH
WITH ‘VIRTUAL’ LEAP TO SAMSUNG GEAR VR

05/01/2017

[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource GamesPress.]

CONWAY, MA and BERKELEY, CA: May 1, 2017 –
Award-winning independent game studio HappyGiant and Tippett Studio
today announced their ground-breaking augmented reality game
HoloGrid: Monster Battle has made the transition to
virtual reality, and is
coming out on the next-generation Samsung Gear VR. In celebration
of the upcoming “Star Wars Day” (May the Fourth), the
game is now available for download on the
Gear VR website and App, and
will be available at a limited-time discounted price of $2.99 USD
(regularly $4.99 USD).

In addition, HappyGiant will mark the occasion with a three-day
HoloGrid virtual “tournament”, in which participating
players have a chance to win prizes such as t-shirts and vintage
prints signed by famed VFX artist Phil Tippett. Beginning at 12:01
AM EST, May 4, and ending Midnight EST Sunday, May 7, players who
accumulate the most multiplayer match victories will be placed into
a pool to receive prizes. Contestants must fill out the tournament
form
HERE.

Launched in December as a physical goods mobile
AR game,
HoloGrid: Monster BattleVR is one of the first Gear VR games to incorporate the
use of the platform’s new GearVR
Controller and add
Oculus Gear VR Avatar support
with VOIP so players can talk to their opponents during games. The
tactical strategy game, which combines elements of board games,
collectible card games, and digital games, has been reimagined for
VR and set inside a deep space game arena.

Built in
Unity, the title has added a new single-player AI
mode and supports multiplayer matches. With gameplay similar to
that of games like
HearthStone or
Magic: The Gathering, HoloGrid: Monster Battle is
the first augmented and virtual reality cross-platform game. VR players will be able to challenge players of the AR
mobile version and vice versa.

Inspired by the Star Wars
HoloChess scene, created by
Phil Tippett for
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope forty years ago, and
then recreated for 2015’s
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens,
HoloGrid: Monster Battle brings the monsters of Tippett to
life for the first time in a game. Captured through a process known
as
photogrammetry, where actual
hand-crafted 3D models are filmed from all angles and then used to
build digital models used in the game, the creatures literally roar
to life and into the digital game.

“It’s been a dream come true to work with Phil
Tippett, who inspired myself and so many others,” said
HappyGiant CEO and Creative Director Michael Levine. “AR and
VR tech has given us a whole new playground in which we can
interact and create our own vision and worlds that previously only
existed in fiction. We can’t wait to see what people think of
HoloGrid in VR!”

Founded by veterans of LucasArts, ILM, Hasbro and Pileated
Pictures,
HappyGiant is an independent developer and
publisher of video games and entertainment for PCs, mobile, tablets
and emerging platforms. For more information, please visit
www.HappyGiant.com .

About Tippett Studio

Tippett Studio, founding in 1984 by animation
pioneer
Phil Tippett, is an Academy
Award®-winning media production company specializing in CG
animation and digital effects for feature films, television,
commercials, VR and AR. The Berkeley, CA-based company has created
visual effects for blockbuster movies including
Star Wars: The Force Awakens,
Jurassic World,
Ted,
The Twilight Saga,
Cloverfield,
Starship Troopers,
Jurassic Park and Robocop. Tippett Studio’s
commercial work has garnered four Clio awards. Tippett Studio is
currently in production on a large format ride for a Chinese theme
park. For additional information, please visit
www.Tippett.com .

###

Editor’s note:

Screen shots and additional press information are available
here Qualified press may
request a copy of the game for review and/or play-through videos.
Michael Levine of HappyGiant is available for interviews via phone
or Skype.